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INHIBITION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION BY ATROPINE
Author(s) -
TAYLOR B. J.,
SMITH P. J.,
BROOK C. G. D.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1985.tb00149.x
Subject(s) - atropine , endocrinology , medicine , secretion , anticholinergic , nocturnal , muscarinic antagonist , cholinergic , hormone , muscarinic acetylcholine receptor , chemistry , receptor
SUMMARY We have investigated the effects of atropine (specific muscarinic cholinergic inhibition) on the nocturnal secretion of GH during the first cycle of stage IV sleep in six normal volunteers and three tall adolescents. Atropine was administered orally in a dose of 0·6 mg ( n = 8) or 1·8 mg ( n = 4) 30 min before expected sleep and the sampling repeated. Peak GH level without atropine was 45·3 mU/l (range 5·7 to 92·0): both doses of atropine abolished sleep associated GH secretion. Spontaneous daytime GH secretion was demonstrated during five 6 h sampling periods in three normal adults. There was a significant decrease in spontaneous daytime GH secretion when the sampling was repeated after atropine 0·6 mg or 1·8 mg. We conclude that inhibition of GH secretion using anticholinergic drugs should be further investigated in the management of excessive growth hormone secretion.